US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League champions earn National League qualification

FRISCO, Texas (June 13, 2013) – The US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League wrapped up this past weekend, and the winners of the Under-14 through Under-17 Boys and Girls Premier Divisions have earned automatic qualification into the prestigious US Youth Soccer National League for the 2013-2014 season.

The National League is an extension of the highly successful US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues (Region I Premier League, Region II Midwest Regional League, Region III Southern Premier League and Region IV Far West Regional League). Automatic Regional League qualification was added to the National League format in January of this year, and two teams per age group from each of the four Regional Leagues will earn a spot in the 2013-2014 National League season.

The 13 Midwest Regional League Premier Division champions will join the three Fall Premier Division champions from Region II in the National League next season. The two Premier Division champions in each of the Midwest Regional League's U-14 through U-17 gender age groups qualify for the National League. For a list of qualification spots and current automatic qualifiers, click here. Should any team claim two automatic spots, or if a team does not accept their automatic spot, those spots will be filled through an open application process. The application process is currently open will run through July 9.

"The US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League is a major part in our player development process at Cincinnati United Soccer Club (CUP). We have had the opportunity to have boys and girls teams qualify to play in the National League because of their success in the Midwest Regional League," said Cincinnati United Boys Director of Coaching Bobby Puppione. "The MRL provides meaningful games to our players, allowing them to earn the opportunity to compete at the highest level in the country. These matches, in MRL and in the National League, push our players and coaches to improve on the technical, tactical, physical, and psychological components of the game on a daily basis at our club. We are able to structure our seasons around competing in quality matches that will prepare our players to play in college and beyond."

* Spot will be open as team has already claimed a National League automatic spot

Teams that earn their spot in the National League have a proven track record of success in US Youth Soccer regional and national competitions, and are among the nation's best as every team has earned their place in the league based on previous and continued individual success, regardless of location or club affiliation. The National League provides an avenue for teams to play in meaningful matches against top competition from across the country for continued development and opportunities for exposure at the collegiate, professional and National Team levels.

Last season, 185 girls, about 16 per team, and 147 boys, about 10 per team, went on to play collegiate soccer. Players found opportunities at some of the top programs in the country, including BYU, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, Penn State, Texas A&M, UCLA, Virginia and Wake Forest on the girls’ side. National League boys moved on to programs such as Creighton, Georgetown, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina and Virginia.

In addition to recruiting opportunities, the top two finishers from each National League division (Blue and Red) will earn a ticket to the US Youth Soccer National Championships, making each match valuable and creating an added element of pressure as players compete for a chance play for the National Championship.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships is the oldest and most prestigious youth soccer national championship competition in the country. Through the first five years of play, National League teams have gone on to claim 20 of a possible 30 National Championship titles. The 2013 National Championships will be held this summer in Overland Park, Kan., July 22-28.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!®" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visitwww.USYouthSoccer.org.

Media Request: When referring to the United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, please refer to the association only as US Youth Soccer, and never as USYS or USYSA. We appreciate your cooperation.

About US Youth Soccer National League - Formed in 2007, the US Youth Soccer National League was developed as a path of advancement for the top teams from the US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues. In addition to meaningful matches, development and identification, the league created a direct path to the annual US Youth Soccer National Championships. League play features the Under-15 through Under-18 age groups for boys and girls who are seeking to advance their college, professional and U.S. National Team aspirations. Learn more at /National_League/.